Differences Between the Alkaline Battery and Lead Acid Battery

In order to understand which battery to use in which situations, this blog will compare and contrast alkaline and lead acid batteries.

Batteries with these characteristics include lead-acid and alkaline batteries, for instance. Although these batteries both provide electricity, The application may differ between alkaline batteries and lead acid batteries. The key difference between lead acid batteries and alkaline batteries is that lead acid batteries are rechargeable while alkaline batteries are mostly non-rechargeable.

Introduce these two batteries briefly before comparing how they differ from lead acid and alkaline batteries. We also compared AGM Battery Vs. Lead-Acid Battery.

What is Lead Acid Battery?

One of the earliest rechargeable batteries still in use today is the lead acid battery. The ratio of energy to weight is extremely low. Additionally, it has reduced power-to-volume proportion. The high power-to-weight ratio of this battery is due to its capacity to deliver high surge current. These batteries are inexpensive technology.

In the fully billed state of the battery, its adverse plate is lead, and also the positive plate is lead oxide. Much chemical energy is stored in the electrolyte. However, when charging, overcharging will result in the electrolysis of water, which will produce hydrogen and oxygen gases. It is a loss to the cell. Learn How Do Lead-acid Batteries Work?

Hydrogen ions are produced at the negative plate of the lithium polymer battery during discharge, and they move to an electrolyte solution before being absorbed in the positive plate. HSO4– ion intake takes place at both plates. During the charging process, the reverse of these responses occurs.

In the discharged state of the battery, both positive and adverse plates come to be lead( II) sulfate. Most of the dissolved sulfuric acid in the electrolyte is released along with most of the water.

Pros

• Compared to lithium-ion batteries, they are more affordable.
• They output a lot of power.
• They can be recharged.

Cons

• They are bulky.
• They have a low power density.
• Cycle life is much lower than Li-ion batteries. Read Can You Mix Lead-acid and Lithium Batteries?

What is Lead-acid Battery Used For?

Electric bikes, motorcycles, forklifts, and large trucks are just a few examples of the many uses for lead-acid batteries. In addition, they offer backup power, such as in UPSs for computers and alarms.

Further Reading:

• How Do You Charge a Lead-acid Battery?
• Can Lead-acid Batteries Be Recycled?
• Can Lead-acid Batteries Explode?
• Are AGM Batteries Better Than Lead-acid?
• Lead Acid Battery Care: How to Maintain Lead Acid Battery?

What is An Alkaline Battery？

An alkaline battery is a type of rechargeable battery that uses zinc chloride as its electrolyte rather than an alkaline solution. Thus, compared to a conventional lead acid battery, an alkaline battery is both safer and more environmentally friendly.

An electrochemical cell called an alkaline battery houses the active ingredient electrolyte, which is made up of an alkali metal salt (potassium hydroxide) and an oxide (potassium oxide). They can also be referred to as dry cell batteries or non-rechargeable batteries because they don’t need any upkeep after use.

Alkaline batteries are used in many different devices, including flashlights and cameras. They are here to stay and have been for a very long time.

Pros

• They pose lower leakage threats
• They come in standard sizes
• They are suitable for many appliances.

Cons

• Alkaline batteries are bulkier compared to lithium batteries.
• They are more susceptible to fire and explosions
• These batteries offer higher internal resistance than lithium-ion batteries.

What is An Alkaline Battery Used For?

Although alkaline batteries are among the most popular, they are being phased out in favor of rechargeable batteries like lithium-ion ones. Despite this, alkaline batteries are still used widely, particularly in the US and Europe.

Due to their durability and long run times, these batteries are used in fans, radios, MP3 players, and remote controls.

Read More: Sealed Lead Acid Battery: What to Know?

What is the Difference Between An Alkaline Battery and a Lead Acid Battery?

Between lead acid and alkaline batteries, there is a number of differences. These include:

• Most alkaline batteries cannot be recharged, whereas lead-acid batteries can.
• In contrast to alkaline batteries, which store their chemical energy in the zinc plate, lead-acid batteries store their chemical energy in the electrolyte.
• Lead-acid batteries consume the electrolyte during discharge, but alkaline batteries do not.
• Lead-acid batteries are relatively expensive compared to alkaline batteries.

• In contrast to lead-acid batteries, which use lead oxide and lead as their positive and negative plates, alkaline batteries use potassium hydroxide as their electrolyte. In contrast, the positive and negative plates of alkaline batteries are made of zinc metal and manganese oxide, respectively.
• Lead-acid batteries have an operating temperature of -20 to 60°C, while alkaline batteries operate between 0 to 65°C.
• Lead-acid batteries typically last 500–800 cycles; in contrast, alkaline batteries don’t have a cycle life because they can’t be recharged.

Why Do Alkaline Batteries Last Much Longer Than Lead Acid?

Compared to nickel steel hydride rechargeable cells, alkaline batteries have a higher capacity, which allows them to last longer before running out of power.

Alkaline batteries also have a low self-discharge rate, which means they don’t lose a lot of energy even when they aren’t producing current.

Summary: Lead Acid Battery Vs Alkaline Battery

One of the earliest rechargeable batteries that are still in widespread use is the lead acid battery. However, the alkaline battery is a kind of primary battery, and it gets its energy from the reaction of zinc metal and manganese oxide.

The key difference between lead acid batteries and alkaline batteries is that lead acid batteries are rechargeable while alkaline batteries are mostly non-rechargeable.

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